FRAGILITÉS DES DÉMOCRATIES, TOTALITARISMES ET SECONDE GUERRE MONDIALE (1929-1945)

THÈME 1 - FRAGILITÉS DES DÉMOCRATIES, TOTALITARISMES ET SECONDE GUERRE MONDIALE (1929-1945)

Chapitre 1. L'impact de la crise de 1929 : déséquilibres économiques et sociaux

  • Impact of the 1929 crisis: economic and social imbalances.
    • Causes of the crisis.
    • Transition from an American crisis to a global crisis.
    • Emergence of mass unemployment.
    • Economic development of Lebanon during the interwar period in terms of industry, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Points de passage et d'ouverture

  • The consequences of the 1929 crisis in Latin America.
  • 1933: A new president of the United States, F. D. Roosevelt, for a new economic policy, the New Deal.
  • The construction of the Kirkuk-Tripoli pipeline.
  • June 1936: The Matignon Agreements.

Economic Development of Lebanon During the Interwar Period

  • Focus on industry, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.
  • Declaration of the State of Greater Lebanon on September 1, 1920.
    • General Gouraud announced the establishment of the State of Greater Lebanon in Beirut.

Lebanon Under French Rule / Mandate

  • Following the declaration of the State of Greater Lebanon, a new entity emerged.
    • Lebanon's area became 10,400 square kilometers, three times the area of the Mutasarrifate.
    • Beirut and Tripoli became important seaports for Lebanon after the annexation of the South.
    • The agricultural land area increased with the inclusion of Bekaa and Akkar.
    • The population increased to 628,000.
    • Beirut became the capital and the seat of the High Commissioner.
  • General Gouraud issued a new paper currency for Lebanon, the Lebanese pound, linking it to the French franc at a rate of 20 French francs.
    • Banque de Syrie et du Liban (a French bank headquartered in Paris) continued to issue Lebanese currency until 1964, when the Lebanese government established the central bank.
  • The French implemented joint economic interests between Lebanon and Syria, specifically for Lebanon.
  • They implemented numerous construction projects, such as road and bridge construction, and the operation of the Beirut tramway.
  • They contributed to opening schools and developing educational programs.

Indicators of Beirut's Growth (1923-1928)

  • Hotels: 15 to 62
  • Restaurants: 35 to 86
  • Cafes: 12 to 21
  • Travel agencies: 17 to 23
  • Sale of travel items: 6 to 26
  • Shops: 21 to 24
  • Advertising agencies: 10 to 43
  • Customs clearance agencies: 16 to 20
  • Insurance companies: 11 to 111
  • Banks: 6 to 86
  • Money exchange and lending houses: 7 to 21
  • Lawyers: 2 to 17
  • Real estate brokers: 278 to 239
  • Doctors: 24 to 164
  • Architects/Engineers: 14 to 31
  • Manufacture traders: 45 to 57
  • Agency traders: 52 to 13
  • Printing houses: 22 to 324
  • Cinemas: 26 to 210

Kirkuk-Tripoli Pipeline Construction

  • The pipeline was constructed by the Compagnie Française des Pétroles.

Oil Concessions in Lebanon

  • The power of cartels in their unity.
  • In 1931, the Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) began transporting crude oil produced in Kirkuk, Iraq, according to the concession.
  • In 1940, the Tripoli refinery was established to refine crude oil imported via pipelines from Iraq through Syria for export and refining.
  • The pipeline had a capacity of 2100 barrels per day.
  • In 1972, with the nationalization of IPC Iraq, the management of these facilities was transferred to the Lebanese government for free. Crude oil pumping stopped due to nationalization but resumed briefly between 1981 and 1982.
  • Oil facilities were also established in Zahrani in southern Lebanon, including a terminal and a refinery.
  • The refinery was owned by CATLEX under the name MEDRECO (Mediterranean Refinery Co.).
  • The refinery began operations in the early 1950s.
  • The ownership was transferred on December 31, 1983, to the Lebanese state.
  • The refinery received crude oil from Saudi Arabia through pipelines across Jordan and Syria to Zahrani.
  • The Tapline (Trans-Arabian Pipeline Company) abandoned the terminal.
  • The refinery's capacity was 17500 barrels per day.
  • It was completely shut down in 1989 due to the Lebanese war, which also caused the shutdown of the Tripoli refinery.